Last week was the first time in my blog’s history that I did not write a post that was WAY longer than anyone wanted to read. I even managed to leave out what I paid for the sofa I bought at my first auction– $200.

That was exactly my top bid. (Actually, a little over once you factor in 10% buyer’s premium and tax.) The other guy stopped bidding, so I cannot say for sure if I would have stuck to my price or if I would have merrily plowed past it.

I started writing up some thoughts on auction-prices in general, and how they compare to Craigslist. But then I decided that I should probably go to more than one auction before proclaiming myself accredited.

Fortunately, this should take NO TIME AT ALL, seeing as how I plan to do nothing else.

I think $200 for the sofa was a good price. I am not sure if I think it’s a great price. (Probably because I have purchased the portal to Narnia and a Kingdom Mirror for nearly the same amount.) But I am very happy with it. The upholstery is in great condition and excusing myself from a DIY-upholstery project that I will never finish is pretty much invaluable.

There are a few problems – the back of the decorative piece at the top is rubbed to bare wood in about a one-inch section (it was probably against a wall).

Also, the auction company piled chairs on top of the sofa and crushed the velvet in a few spots. After vacuuming with the upholstery brush, it is much improved, but not perfect. I am hoping it will kind of work itself out. But even if it doesn’t, I am fine with it. On the spectrum of condition-I-would-have-bought-this-in, this is excellent.

I also bid on another sofa (the blue one above, which I took no photos of, but the upholstery and veneer were in great condition.) I liked it, but did not HAVE to have it… I figured if I could get it for dirt cheap, I would find a use for it.

I set my price for that one at $100 and was outbid— I have to say it was WAY easier to stop bidding on something I was not in love with.

I can see that the auction-mindset is going to be a problem for me: the way you get ramped up or blinded by adrenaline/winning/confusion-because-you-cannot-even-understand-what-is-being-said/uncertainty-that-you-are-even-bidding-on-the-right-item.

It is kind of surprising I did not go home with some random piece of crap that I bought accidentally. (Or some glorious piece that I bought on purpose, but told Paul was the result of scratching my ear.)

I will show you photos of the sofa in place, once I get the room in order (update, living room photos)— we are getting ready to go to the beach (amazing Victorian houses in that link) at the end of July, and I am using the living room as a collection area for the ungodly amount of stuff we take.

Plus, I still have the sofa it is replacing shoved in there, on top of – surprise! MORE STUFF I BOUGHT AT THE AUCTION THIS WEEKEND.

Here is a hint. (And no, it is not the vanity or the scale.)

Now. Two things.

First:Last week’s comments are a must-read if you want some excellent advice from experienced auction-goers who (unlike me,) actually know what they are talking about. The comments are essentially a mini training-manual… how to find an auction near you, how bidding works, 50 other things that I would have benefited from knowing before I went.

Thanks to all their suggestions, I now need some kind of sophisticated algorithm to manage my auction-schedule. I am not sure how I will find time, but I suspect grocery shopping will be the first casualty.

Second:
Elvis appreciates all your words of admiration… but she has asked that I recirculate the memo for those of you who missed it– Elvis is a lady.

Oh, how I love the sofa and your blog! Auctions can be fun, exhausting, will mess with your nerves faster than anything & possibly turn you into a werewolf in the first 30 minutes of arrival. I remember my first auction. I absolutely had to have this beautiful mahogany chest, but someone else thought THEY were supposed to have it!!!??? I decided the chest would have a much happier life in my home, so I put on my “back down now, you’ll never out-bid me” face & the chest came home w/ me. (You must assess between “I’m aloof & care nothing for this piece” or “Pitbull bidder & there is no way someone else is walking off with this item” faces- You must master both of these looks, they will come in handy). Elvis is precious, and looks very fancy on her/your velvet sofa! My kitty, Ashes, sends her very best & has now decided she needs a velvet sofa, but will not wear pearls. Have fun at the beach! Who knows, you may even find an auction while on vacay!

I love your formula for figuring out what is a “good price” for you. I myself have a complicated algorithm for comparing prices and assessing need on every purchase new and used, full price, sale price, and garage sale/thrift store price. (No auctions or Craigslist for me. I’m an in-person shopper.) Some sample thoughts that go through my head, “This is used, quality, and in good condition. Could I find anything comparable new?” “I need this. Am I willing to wait for it to go on sale?” “25% off the last marked price? I’ll take my chance and wait for 40% off the l.m.p.” “Look! It’s a glass milk jug like the ones from my childhood! It’s unmarked. I’ll offer them $5.00.” And for used clothing, “No. I have enough stained t-shirts at home.”

We went to auctions when we were newly weds in the 1980’s and got some wonderful dearly still treasured treasures! We would stay till the last moment because folks would run out of money and there would still be stuff left for those who were patient (and could still be awake at 1:00 AM). Always celebrated our little wins by stopping at Waffle (Awful) House. We gave it up about 15 years ago because the auctions were overrun with bidding dealers and decorators who had high budget bank accounts. Still, We have a beautiful 1890 mahogany bachelor’s chifferobe that we snagged for $99…and more goodies.

I went to my first ever auction in May. A clearing auction. Junk and nostalgia mostly. People went crazy, bidding on stuff you could get cheaper at a charity shop. Like polyester work pants and white shirts. It took me about 400 lots before I spent $30 on a small cupboard. Still, it was a fun day out.

Your experienced readers suggest you bought the mirror but it may be attached to the vanity so I’m putting forth the suggestion you bought home the half drank drink container or the man in the blue t-shirt (he might be handy at something, like moving furniture or kitty litter detail).

Elvis is a “practically purrfect” name for her, and the pearls are a delightful touch.

Eeeek I’m super excited to see the couch once you get it home and styled. And thanks, by the way, I’m now googling auctions in my area and apparently there are TONS! My husband is going to hate my new hobby!

Love that everyone is choosing the triptych mirror that’s attached to the art deco vanity. (Come on, guys. You don’t spend enough time on craigslist if you can’t identify antiques in impossible photos. If I pass myself off as well-informed, does that make me sound less obsessive?) I was going to say it was the gray table the guy has his Gatorade bottle on so you could make it into a kitchen island, but that’s a me move, not a you move.

And then I realized this is like taking exams – think like the professor. Why is the person aiming the video camera there? Because she – you – is trying to capture the guys moving her large heavy item. Except that the item is totally hidden by the items around it. All you can see is the men moving it, and a little bit of ornamentation (mahogany?) at the very top. It would qualify as a hint if it were hard to sort out from the other items in the picture, but I think you’re cheating if it’s actually invisible. I’m just saying :).

You win! (I am totally a cheater, you cannot see any of it… although the audio is the real hint.) I thought saying the vanity wasn’t it would make that clear… but now I realize it’s sort of hard to sort out anything if you don’t know what you’re looking at. (And that vanity is so not my style.)

Can you check for scam coming from your blog-I received 11 comments — seem to be selling something– and when I tried to post about them I got a pop up that I’m posting too soon? I put them in my scam thingy and could forward them to you if you tell me what address to use, thanks

Have fun with the auctions. I have a great weekly auction that specializes in home clean outs. Everything from tag sale to Tiffany. Before I started buying/bidding I went to watch and learn. The hardest part is not buying “projects”. I stick to what I really need and will use.
Occasionally there will be a nice antique that goes for nothing. If I have the extra $$ I will buy it.

My first auction was at an antique dealer’s warehouse. He had died and his heirs didn’t want any of it (clearly, they were NOT related to me). The warehouse was a former car dealership and had stuff everywhere you looked. So, I look inside this office-type room and I see these cute garden whirly-gigs. And there were about a dozen so I thought, “Christmas Gifts!” The bidding had already started and no one was bidding…no bidding…the opening bid got down to $1. Yesss! Up shot my hand. SOLD to meeeeee for one. whole. dollar. Doing my Happy Dance, I see the auction assistant putting my bidder number on THE DOOR to this room. “Excuse me, did I just buy this whole room? With that cool, turquoise 1950s refrig complete with original glass storage containers and that fainting couch with the 1920s bouillon fringe?” “Yes, Ma’am, you did.” FOR ONE DOLLAR. Even though my husband took one look at it all and started humming a little “this can’t be happening to me” tune, I got it all home, and I’ve been going to auctions ever since.